Sanitary liquid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A sanitary means by which liquids such as bulk milk may be drawn from a source of supply such as a milk cannister in a refrigeration closet. The sanitary means comprises a two part insulated housing, mounted outside of the refrigerator and a tube connecting between a source of supply and a valve within the housing. One portion of the housing is fixed and the second portion thereof is movable by a receptacle such as a drinking glass to an open position whereupon the valve means is actuated to provide a flow of liquid into the glass until the glass is removed.

[451 May 27, 1975 3,464,592 9/1969 Stroop 222/558 X 3,506,166 4/1970 Pooley 251/139 X Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A sanitary means by which liquids such as bulk milk may be drawn from a source of supply such as a milk cannister in a refrigeration closet. The sanitary means comprises a two part insulated housing, mounted outside of the refrigerator and a tube connecting between a source of supply and a valve within the housing. One portion of the housing is fixed and the second portion thereof is movable by a receptacle such as a drinking glass to an open position whereupon the valv Inventor: Charles P. Martindale, 4322 Palm Tree Blvd., Cape Coral, Fla. 33904 Apr. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 244,358

US. Cl. 222/146 B67d 5/62 251/139; 141/360, 363, 141/362; 335/280; 222/146 C, 76, 556, 567, 509, 510, 448,181,146

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Martindale SANITARY LIQUID DISPENSER [22] Filed:

[51] Im. [58] Field of Search e means is actuated to provide a flow of liquid into the glass until the glass is removed.

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SBBAS 1 SANITARY LIQUID DISPENSER OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a sanitary means by which liquids such as bulk milk may be dispensed from a milk cannister in a refrigeration closet.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a dispenser, constructed of suitable materials to permit the liquid, dispensed thereby, to maintain a proper temperature at all times.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids such as bulk milk in which all of the liquid contact surfaces are free of crevices and can be easily removed for cleaning and sanitation or discarding.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tubular conduit leading from a source of supply ofa liquid within a refrigeration closet to the dispenser, providing a solenoid controlled valve means for dispensing liquid only when a suitable receptacle is in position to receive a charge of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquids, providing a housing having a fixed portion and a movable portion, hinged thereto, for actuation to an open position by a receptacle such as a drinking glass to provide a flow of liquid into the drinking glass when the glass is in position to receive the liquid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a solenoid within the dispenser housing and switch means to open the valve means when the receptacle is in position to receive the liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a manually controlled switch means to deactivate the solenoid while the dispenser is being serviced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a time relay in the electric circuit to control the actual discharge time of the fluid, thereby permitting the discharge of various desired measures of the fluid such as 6 02., 8 02., IO 02., etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the liquid dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the time relay control means; and

FIG. 3 is a view of a bulk milk cannister in a refrigeration closet with a tube connecting between the cannister and a valve actuated dispenser insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING With reference to the drawings the liquid dispenser of the present invention is indicated generally at 10, fixed to the floor 12 of a refrigeration closet 13. The dispenser includes a housing 14 comprised of a fixed portion 16 and a swingable portion 18, hinged as at 20 to the fixed portion 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the housing 14 is generally cylindrical in form, having a semi-spherical lower end 22 and an inwardly projecting annular flange 24 at its upper end. A generally cylindrical well 26 extends axially downwardly into the housing 14 through an aperture 28 in the refrigerator floor 12 and a central aperture 30 in the housing is formed by the flange 24.

A tubular insert 32 extends axially downwardly through the well 26 and is nested therein. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the well 26 is provided with an inwardly rounded flange 34 which supports an inwardly rounded flange 36 at the lower end of the insert 32.

The upper end of the well 26 is screw-threaded as at 38 and said well 26 is suspended through the aperture 28 in the refrigerator floor 12 by a nut 40 threaded thereon and overlying the upper surface 42 of the floor 12. A second nut 44 is provided on the lower portion of the screw threads 38 which is engaged against the inner surface 45 of the annular flange 24. When the nut 40 is tightened, the assembly comprised of the housing 14, well 26 and tubular insert 32 are fixed relative to the refrigerator floor 12.

The inwardly rounded flange 36, at the lower end of the insert 32, forms a valve seat 46 for a ball valve 48 within the insert 32.

A lever arm 50 is fixed as at 52 to the swingable housing portion 18 and includes an upwardlyiextending arm 54 which is hinged to the fixed housing portion 16 by the hinge 20. The hinge 20 is of the spring loaded type which normally holds the swingable portion 18 in a closed position relative to the fixed portion 16. A normally outwardly angled portion 56 of the arm 54 extends upwardly of the spring loaded hinge 20.

The lever arm 50 also includes a bracket portion 58, extending downwardly and outwardly of the swingable portion 18, and when a receptacle such as a drinking glass 60 is pushed against the bracket portion 58 the swingable portion 18 is moved outwardly to an open position causing the arm portion 56 to depress a normally open switch 62 to energize a solenoid 64 which attracts the stainless steel ball valve 48, permitting a flow of liquid from the source of supply, such as the cannister 66, through a tube 68 fixed as at 70 to the top end of the insert 32, out through the valve seat 46 into the receptacle 60. The receptacle 60 is withdrawn after a desired charge of fluid has been received therein, thereby breaking the electric circuit to the solenoid 64 to shut off the fluid flow and permitting the spring loaded hinge 20 to return the swingable portion 18 to a closed position.

A time relay 72 may be included in the electric circuit which will break the circuit to the solenoid 64 after a selected lapse of time to dispense the liquid in a desired measure of 6 02., 8 02., 10 02., etc for example.

The switch 62 responds to open the ball valve 48 only when the receptacle 60 is fully inserted and positioned to receive a charge of liquid, and the solenoid 64 is deenergized before the receptacle 60 is fully withdrawn from its position beneath the valve seat 46 to prevent spillage.

A weep hole 76 extends through the semi-spherical lower end 22 and a manually controlled on-off switch 78 is provided to deactivate the switch 62 to permit servicing of the dispenser assembly.

The insert 32 and ball valve 48 are constructed to be free of crevices and both the insert 32 and ball valve 48 along with the well 26 are preferably constructed of a material such as stainless steel, which is a good conductor of heat to, at all times, maintain a desirable temperature of the fluid contained within the dispenser. The insert 32 may be constructed of a plastic material which may be discarded. The heat conduction through the wall 26 insures the maintenance of a desired temperature range in the insert 32. The housing 14 is preferably insulated to further assist in maintaining a relatively constant temperature within the dispenser and the inner space between the fixed housing 16 and the well 26 may be insulated as at 80. The exposed surface 82 is preferably made of an impervious material for cleaning purposes.

The upper end 83 of the tubular insert 32 is of a reduced diameter, providing an annular space between the insert 32 and the well 26 which opens into the refrigerator.

All of the liquid contact surfaces within the dispenser are closed against outside contamination and may be sealed in a sterilized condition when delivered to a customer.

While a preferred form of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sanitary liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid such as milk from a source such as a cannister in a refrigeration closet comprising:

A. a housing suspended beneath the floor of the refrigeration closet and including an enclosed semispherical lower end providing,

1. a fixed portion,

2. a central portion which comprises a swingable portion hinged to said fixed portion and swingable between a closed and an open position,

3. an enclosed inner chamber;

B. a well, extending upwardly through the floor of the refrigeration closet and downwardly into said chamber and having an inwardly rounded bottom flange,

C. a tubular insert including an inwardly rounded bottom flange seated on said well flange providing an opening defining a valve seat for a ball valve comprising said valve means nested within said well providing,

1. an open upper end,

2. a normally closed valve means at the lower end;

D. a conduit tube extending in open communication between the liquid storage source in the refrigeration closet and said insert through said open upper end;

E. means to open said valve means, when said swing? able portion is swung from a closed position to a fully open position to permit a fluid flow from the source through said open valve.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 including a weep open electric switch means, operable to a closed position when said swingable portion is manually moved to a fully opened position to energize said solenoid to at.- tract said ball valve from said valve seat to permit a flow of liquid from said source through said conduit tube, said insert and open valve seat into the receptacle.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4 in which said electric switch means includes a push button switch, fixed to said fixed portion, a lever arm fixed to said swingable portion and including an angular extended portion which is adaptedto engage said push button switch to energize said solenoid when said swingable portion is moved to said fully open position.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 including an adjustable time relay to maintain a closed electric circuit to said solenoid a predetermined length oftime.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 including an exteriorly positioned manually operated on-off switch to selectively activate or deactivate said pushbutton switch.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said swingable portion to said closed position when the refrom engagement with said ceptacle is removed bracket. 

1. A sanitary liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid such as milk from a source such as a cannister in a refrigeration closet comprising: A. a housing suspended beneath the floor of the refrigeration closet and including an enclosed semi-spherical lower end providing,
 1. a fixed portion,
 1. an open upper end,
 2. a central portion which comprises a swingable portion hinged to said fixed portion and swingable between a closed and an open position,
 2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 including a weep hole centrally of said semi-spherical lower end.
 2. a normally closed valve means at the lower end; D. a conduit tube extending in open communication between the liquid storage source in the refrigeration closet and said insert through said open upper end; E. means to open said valve means, when said swingable portion is swung from a closed position to a fully open position to permit a fluid flow from the source through said open valve.
 3. A dispenser as described in claim 1 including a bracket fixed exteriorly of said central portion for manual moving engagement by a receptacle such as a drinking glass to swing said swingable portion to said open position.
 3. an enclosed inner chamber; B. a well, extending upwardly through the floor of the refrigeration closet and downwardly into said chamber and having an inwardly rounded bottom flange, C. a tubular insert including an inwardly rounded bottom flange seated on said well flange providing an opening defining a valve seat for a ball valve comprising said valve means nested within said well providing,
 4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3 in which said means to open comprises a solenoid and a normally open electric switch means, operable to a closed position when said swingable portion is manually moved to a fully opened position to energize said solenoid to attract said ball valve from said valve seat to permit a flow of liquid from said source through said conduit tube, said insert and open valve seat into the receptacle.
 5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4 in which said electric switch means includes a push button switch, fixed to said fixed portion, a lever arm fixed to said swingable portion and including an angular extended portion which is adapted to engage said push button switch to energize said solenoid when said swingable portion is moved to said fully open position.
 6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 including an adjustable time relay to maintain a closed electric circuit to said solenoid a predetermined length of time.
 7. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 including an exteriorly positioned manually operated ''''on-off'''' switch to selectively activate or deactivate said push button switch.
 8. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said swingable portion and bracket are arranged relative to said electric switch, means whereby said push button switch is actuated only when the receptacle is manually positioned directly beneath said valve seat opening.
 9. A dispenser as defined in claim 8 including a spring loaded hinge pivotally attaching said swingable portion to said fixed portion which is adapted to move said swingable portion to said closed position when the receptacle is removed from engagement with said bracket. 